1
八月，赫連鐸誘幽州李匡威之眾八萬，寇天成軍，遂攻雲州，營於州北，連亙數里。 武皇潛軍入於雲州，詰旦，出騎軍以擊之，斬獲數萬，李匡威燒營而遁。 十月，邢州李存孝叛，納款於梁，李存信構之也。
In the eighth month Helian Duo won over eighty thousand of Li Kuangwei's Youzhou troops, struck Tiancheng Army, then besieged Yunzhou with camps stretching several li north of the city. Wuhuang slipped into Yunzhou with his army; at dawn his horsemen fell on them, killing or capturing tens of thousands, and Li Kuangwei burned his camp and fled. In the tenth month Li Cunxiao of Xingzhou rebelled and went over to Liang after Li Cunxin set him up.
2
景福二年春，大舉以伐王鎔，以其通好於李存孝也。 二月，攻天長鎮，旬日不下。 王鎔出師三萬來援，武皇逆戰於叱日嶺下，鎮人敗，斬首萬餘級。 時歲饑，軍乏食，脯屍肉而食之。 進軍下井陘，李存孝將兵夜入鎮州，鎮人乞師於汴； 汴帥方攻時溥，不暇應之。 乃求援於幽州，李匡威率兵赴之，武皇乃班師。 七月，武皇討李存孝於邢州，遂攻平山，渡滹水，攻鎮州。 王鎔懼，以帛五十萬犒軍，請修舊好，仍以鎮、冀之師助擊存孝，許之。 武皇進圍邢州。 十二月，武皇狩於近郊，獲白兔，有角長三寸。
In the spring of Jingfu 2 Wuhuang marched in force against Wang Rong for keeping ties with Li Cunxiao. In the second month he attacked Tianchang Fort, which held out for ten days. Wang Rong sent thirty thousand reinforcements; Wuhuang met them at Chiri Ridge, routed the Zhen army, and took more than ten thousand heads. Famine left the army starving; they ate dried flesh from the dead. He pushed down Jingxing Pass; Li Cunxiao stole into Zhenzhou by night while the city called on Bian for aid; but the Bian commander was busy attacking Shi Pu and could not answer. Wang Rong turned to Youzhou; Li Kuangwei marched to help, and Wuhuang withdrew. In the seventh month Wuhuang attacked Li Cunxiao at Xingzhou, took Pingshan, crossed the Hutuo, and moved on Zhenzhou. Wang Rong, in terror, sent five hundred thousand bolts of silk to reward the army, sued for peace, and pledged Zhen and Ji troops against Cunxiao; Wuhuang agreed. Wuhuang pressed the siege of Xingzhou. In the twelfth month he hunted near the capital and took a white hare with three-inch horns.
3
乾寧元年三月，邢州李存孝出城首罪，縶歸太原，轘於市。 邢、洺、磁三州平。 武皇表馬師素為邢州節度使。
In the third month of Qianning 1 Li Cunxiao surrendered at Xingzhou, was sent bound to Taiyuan, and executed by dismemberment in the market. Xing, Mo, and Ci were pacified. He recommended Ma Shisu as commissioner of Xingzhou.
4
五月，鄆州節度使朱瑄為汴軍所攻，遣使來乞師。 武皇遣騎將安福順、安福應、安福遷督精騎五百，假道於魏州以應之。 九月，潞州節度使康君立以鴆死。
In the fifth month Zhu Xuan of Yan was besieged by Bian and asked for help. Wuhuang sent An Fushun, An Fuying, and An Fuqian with five hundred picked horsemen through Weizhou to his aid. In the ninth month Kang Junli, commissioner of Lu, died of poisoned wine.
5
十月，武皇自晉陽率師伐幽州。 初，李匡儔奪據兄位，燕人多不義之，安塞軍戍將劉仁恭挈族歸於武皇，武皇遇之甚厚。 仁恭數進畫於蓋寓，言幽州可取之狀，願得兵一萬，指期平定。 武皇方討李存孝於邢州，輟兵數千，欲納仁恭，不利而還。 匡儔由是驕怠，數犯邊境，武皇怒，故率軍以討之。 是時，雲州吐渾赫連鐸、白義誠並來歸，命皆笞而釋之。
In the tenth month Wuhuang marched from Jinyang against Youzhou. Li Kuangchou had ousted his brother, and the Yan people resented him; Liu Rengong, garrison officer at Anse, came over with his clan, and Wuhuang received him warmly. Rengong urged Gai Yu again and again that ten thousand men could take Youzhou on a fixed schedule. While Wuhuang was still at Xingzhou he diverted a few thousand men for Rengong but had to pull back without gain. Kuangchou grew bold and raided the frontier until Wuhuang marched to punish him. Helian Duo and Bai Yicheng of Yunzhou Tuyuhun submitted; he had them flogged and let them go.
6
十一月，進攻武州。 甲寅，攻新州。 十二月，李匡儔命大將率步騎六萬救新州； 武皇選精甲逆戰，燕軍大敗，斬首萬餘級，生獲將領百餘人，曳練徇於新州城下。 是夜，新州降。 辛亥，進攻媯州。 壬子，燕兵復合於居庸關拒戰，武皇命精騎以疲之，令步將李存審由他道擊之，自午至晡，燕軍復敗。 甲寅，李匡儔攜其族棄城而遁，將之滄州，隨行輜車，臧獲妓妾甚眾。 滄帥盧彥威利其貨，以兵攻匡儔於景城，殺之，蓋擄其眾。 丙辰，進軍幽州，其守城大將請降，武皇令李存審與劉仁恭入城撫勞，居人如故，市不改肆，封府庫以迎武皇。
In the eleventh month he attacked Wuzhou. On jiayin he assaulted Xinzhou. In the twelfth month Li Kuangchou sent a great general with sixty thousand men to relieve Xinzhou; Wuhuang met them with elite armor; the Yan army was crushed, more than ten thousand were killed, and over a hundred officers were paraded in chains before Xinzhou. Xinzhou surrendered that night. On xinhai he moved on Guizhou. On renzi the Yan forces blocked Juyong Pass; Wuhuang tired them with elite horse, while Li Cunshen struck from another road from noon to dusk and routed them again. On jiayin Li Kuangchou fled toward Cangzhou with his clan, his train laden with servants and concubines. Lu Yanwei of Cangzhou wanted his loot, attacked him at Jingcheng, killed him, and seized his train. On bingchen he entered Youzhou; the garrison commanders submitted; Li Cunshen and Liu Rengong pacified the city, business went on as usual, and the treasuries were sealed for Wuhuang's arrival.
7
乾寧二年正月，武皇在幽州，命李存審、劉仁恭徇諸屬郡。 二月，以仁恭為權幽州留後，從燕人之請也。 留腹心燕留德等十餘人分典軍政，武皇遂班師，凡駐幽州四十日。
In the first month of Qianning 2, while Wuhuang held Youzhou, he sent Li Cunshen and Liu Rengong to secure the outlying commanderies. In the second month the Yan people had Rengong made acting regent of Youzhou. He left Yan Liude and more than ten trusted men to govern and withdrew after forty days at Youzhou.
8
六月，武皇率蕃漢之師自晉陽趨三輔，討鳳翔李茂貞、邠州王行瑜、華州韓建之亂。 先是，三帥稱兵向闕，同弱王室，殺害宰輔。 時河中節度使王重盈卒，重榮之子珂，即武皇之子婿也，權典軍政。 其兄珙為陝州節度使，瑤為絳州刺史，與珂爭河中，遂訴於岐、邠、華三鎮，言珂本蒼頭，不當襲位。 珂亦訴於武皇，武皇上表保薦珂，乞授河中旄鉞，詔可之。 三帥遂以兵入覲，大掠京師，請授王珂同州節度使，王瑤河中節度使，天子亦許之。 武皇遂舉兵表三帥之罪，復移檄三鎮，三鎮大懼。 是月，次絳州，刺史王瑤登陴拒命，武皇攻之，旬日而拔，斬王瑤於軍門，誅其黨千餘人。 七月，次河中，王珂迎謁於路。
In the sixth month he rushed from Jinyang with mixed Tartar and Chinese forces into the capital region against Li Maozhen of Fengxiang, Wang Xingyu of Bin, and Han Jian of Hua. Earlier the three warlords had marched on the capital, weakened the throne, and murdered chief ministers. Wang Chongying of Hezhong had just died; his son Ke, Wuhuang's son-in-law, held command. His brothers Gong of Shaan and Yao of Jiang fought Ke for Hezhong and told Feng, Bin, and Hua that Ke was born a bondsman and unfit to rule. Ke appealed to Wuhuang, who memorialized for Ke and asked the Hezhong commission; the court agreed. The three warlords then entered the capital, looted it, and secured an edict making Ke commissioner of Tong and Yao of Hezhong; the emperor assented. Wuhuang marched instead, denouncing the three warlords in memorials and proclamations until they were terrified. That month at Jiangzhou Wang Yao held the walls; Wuhuang took the city in ten days, beheaded Yao before the army, and killed more than a thousand of his faction. In the seventh month he reached Hezhong, where Ke met him on the road.
9
己未，同州節度使王行約棄城奔京師，與左軍兵士劫掠西市，都民大擾。 行約，即行瑜弟也。 庚申，樞密使駱全瓘以武皇之軍將至，請天子幸。 右軍指揮使李繼鵬，茂貞假子也，本姓閻，名珪，與全瓘謀劫天子幸鳳翔。 左軍指揮使王行實，亦行瑜之弟也，與劉景宣欲劫天子幸邠州。 兩軍相攻，縱火燒內門，煙火蔽天。 天子急詔鹽州六都兵士，令追殺亂兵，左右軍退走。 王行瑜、李茂貞聲言自來迎駕，天子懼，出幸南山，駐蹕於莎城。 是夜，熒惑犯心。 壬戌，武皇進收同州，聞天子幸石門，遣判官王瑰奉表奔問，天子遣使賜詔，令與王珂同討邠、鳳。 時武皇方攻華州，俄聞李茂貞領兵士三萬至盩厔，王行瑜領兵至興平，欲往石門迎駕，乃解華州之圍，進營渭橋。 天子遣延王戒丕、丹王允齎詔，促武皇兵直抵邠、鳳。
On jiwei Wang Xingyue of Tong abandoned his post, fled to Chang'an, and with the Left Army looted the Western Market until the city was in uproar. Xingyue was the younger brother of Wang Xingyu. On gengshen Luo Quanzhen of the Palace Secretariat, seeing Wuhuang's army approach, urged the emperor to flee. Li Jipeng of the Right Army—Maozhen's adopted son, born Yan Gui—plotted with Quanzhen to drag the emperor to Fengxiang. Wang Xingshi of the Left Army—another of Xingyu's brothers—and Liu Jingxuan meant to carry him off to Bin. The two armies clashed, burned the inner gates, and smoke blotted out the sky. The emperor ordered the Salt Prefecture Six Capital troops to suppress the mutineers, and both armies fell back. Xingyu and Maozhen claimed they would escort the throne in person; the emperor fled south to Shacheng. That night Mars crossed the Heart mansion. On renxu he took Tongzhou; learning the emperor was at Shimen, he sent Wang Gui with a loyal memorial; the court ordered him and Ke to strike Bin and Feng together. While he besieged Hua he learned Maozhen had thirty thousand men at Zhi and Xingyu was at Xingping, both bound for Shimen; he raised the siege and camped at Wei Bridge. The emperor sent Princes Jiepi of Yan and Yun of Dan with edicts urging him straight on Bin and Feng.
10
八月乙酉，供奉官張承業齎詔告諭。 涇帥張鐺已領步騎三萬於京西北，扼邠、岐之路。 武皇進營渭北，遣史儼將三千騎往石門扈駕，遣李存信、李存審會鄜延之兵攻行瑜之梨園寨。 天子削奪行瑜官爵，以武皇為天下兵馬都招討使，以鄜州李思孝為北面招討使，以涇州張鐺為西南面招討使。 天子又遣延王、丹王賜武皇禦衣及大將茶酒、弓矢，命二王兄事武皇。 延王傳天子密旨云：「一昨非卿至此，已為賊庭行酒之人矣。 所慮者二凶締合，卒難翦除，且欲姑息茂貞，令與卿修好，俟梟斬行瑜，更與卿商量。」 武皇上表，請駕還京。 令李存節領二千騎於京西北，以防邠賊奔突。 辛亥，天子還宮，加武皇守太師、中書令、邠寧四面行營都統。
On yiyou in the eighth month Zhang Chengye delivered the court's instructions. Zhang Dang of Bin already held thirty thousand men northwest of the capital, blocking the roads to Bin and Qi. Wuhuang camped north of the Wei, sent Shi Yan with three thousand horse to escort the emperor at Shimen, and sent Li Cunxin and Li Cunshen with Fuyan forces against Xingyu's Liyuan camp. The emperor degraded Xingyu, named Wuhuang commander of all armies, Li Sixiao northern commander, and Zhang Dang southwestern commander. The princes brought imperial robes for Wuhuang, tea, wine, bows, and arrows for his generals, and were told to honor him as an elder brother. Prince Jiepi passed a secret message: "Had you not come yesterday, I would already be pouring wine for the rebels. The court fears the two rebels will unite and prove hard to destroy; for now we must placate Maozhen and have him treat with you until Xingyu is killed—then we can decide more." Wuhuang asked the emperor to return to Chang'an. He posted Li Cunjie with two thousand horse northwest of the capital to block any Bin breakout. On xinhai the emperor re-entered the palace and promoted Wuhuang to Grand Guardian, Imperial Secretary, and chief of the Bining expedition.
11
時王行瑜弟兄固守梨園寨，我師攻之甚急，李茂貞遣兵萬餘來援行瑜，營於龍泉鎮，茂貞自率兵三萬迫咸陽。 武皇奉請詔茂貞罷兵，兼請削奪茂貞官爵。 詔曰：「茂貞勒兵，蓋備非常，尋已發遣歸鎮。」 又言：「茂貞已誅李繼鵬、李繼晸，卿可切戒兵甲，無犯土疆。」 武皇請賜河中王珂旌節，三表許之。 又表李罕之為副都統。
Xingyu's brothers held Liyuan under heavy assault; Maozhen sent ten thousand reinforcements to Longquan and marched thirty thousand on Xianyang himself. Wuhuang asked that Maozhen withdraw and be stripped of rank. The edict replied that Maozhen had only mobilized in emergency and had already been sent home. It added that Maozhen had killed Li Jipeng and Li Jijing and ordered Wuhuang not to cross the border. Wuhuang asked the Hezhong commission for Ke; after three memorials it was granted. He also named Li Hanzhi deputy commander.
12
十月丙戌，李存信於梨園寨北遇賊軍，斬首千餘級，自是賊閉壁不出。 戊子，天子賜武皇內弟子四人，又降朱書御劄，賜魏國夫人陳氏。 是月，王行瑜因敗衄之後，閉壁自固，武皇令李罕之晝夜急攻，賊軍乏食，拔營而去。 李存信與罕之等先伏軍於厄路，俟賊軍之至，縱兵擊之，殺戮萬計。 是日，收梨園等三寨，生擒行瑜之子知進，並毌丘氏、大將李元福等二百人，送赴闕庭。 庚寅，王行約、王行實燒劫寧州遁走，寧州守將徐景乞降。 武皇表蘇文建為邠州節度使，且於寧州為治所。 十一月丁巳，收龍泉寨。 時行瑜以精甲五千守之，李茂貞出兵來援，為李罕之所敗，邠賊遂棄龍泉寨而去。 行瑜復入邠州，大軍進逼其城，行瑜登城號哭曰：「行瑜無罪，昨殺南北司大臣，是岐帥將兵脅製主上，請治岐州，行瑜乞束身歸朝。」 武皇報曰：「王尚父何恭之甚耶！ 仆受命討三賊臣，公其一也。 如能束身歸闕，老夫未敢專命，為公奏取進止。」 行瑜懼，棄城而遁。 武皇收其城，封府庫，遽以捷聞。 既而慶州奏，王行瑜將家屬五百人到州界，為部下所殺，傳首闕下。 武皇既平行瑜，還軍渭北。
On bingxu in the tenth month Li Cunxin cut down more than a thousand north of Liyuan; the rebels then held behind their walls. On wuzi the emperor gave Wuhuang four inner attendants and a vermilion imperial missive honoring Lady Chen of Wei. That month, broken in battle, Xingyu held his walls while Li Hanzhi pressed day and night until the rebels, starving, broke camp. Li Cunxin and Hanzhi had laid an ambush on the escape road and cut down tens of thousands as the rebels fled. That day they took Liyuan and two other forts, captured Zhijin, Lady Muqiu, Li Yuanfu, and two hundred more, and sent them to court. On gengyin Xingyue and Xingshi sacked Ning and fled; its defender Xu Jing submitted. He made Su Wenjian commissioner of Bin with his seat at Ning. On dingsi in the eleventh month they took Longquan camp. Xingyu had left five thousand elite men there; Maozhen's relief was beaten by Li Hanzhi, and the Bin forces abandoned Longquan. Xingyu fled into Bin; as the army closed in he wailed from the wall: "I am innocent—the ministers I killed were forced on me by the Fengxiang commander; punish Feng, and I will surrender myself to court. Wuhuang answered: "Exalted Father, why such humility! I was ordered to punish three rebel commissioners, and you are one. If you surrender, I cannot decide alone—I will ask the throne. Terrified, he abandoned Bin and fled. Wuhuang took the city, sealed the stores, and reported victory at once. Soon Qing reported that Xingyu, with five hundred kin, was killed by his own men at the border; his head reached the capital. After pacifying Xingyu, Wuhuang withdrew north of the Wei.
13
十二月，武皇營於雲陽，候討鳳翔進止。 乙未，天子賜武皇為忠貞平難功臣，進封晉王，加實封二百戶。 武皇復上表請討李茂貞，天子不允。 武皇私謂詔使曰：「觀主上意，疑仆別有他腸，復何言哉！ 但禍不去胎，憂患未已。」 又奏：「臣統領大軍，不敢徑赴朝覲。」 遂班師。
In the twelfth month he camped at Yunyang, waiting orders against Fengxiang. On yiwei the emperor named him Loyal Pacifier of Rebellion, Prince of Jin, with two hundred added fief households. He memorialized again to attack Maozhen; the emperor refused. Wuhuang told the envoy privately: "The throne suspects I have other designs—what is left to say! But trouble rooted in the womb is not yet cut off. He also wrote that he dared not bring his army straight to audience. He withdrew his forces.
14
乾寧三年正月，汴人大舉以攻兗、鄆，朱瑄、朱瑾再乞師於武皇，假道於魏州，羅宏信許之。 乃令都指揮使李存信將步騎三萬與李承嗣、史儼會軍，以拒汴人。 存信軍於莘，與朱瑾合勢，頻挫汴軍，汴帥患之，乃間魏人。 存信禦兵無法，稍侵魏之芻牧者，宏信乃與汴帥通，出師三萬攻存信軍。 存信揭營而退，保於洺州。 三月，武皇大掠相、魏諸邑，攻李固、洹水，殺魏兵萬餘人，進攻魏州。 五月，汴將葛從周、氏叔琮引兵赴援。
In the first month of Qianning 3 the Bian forces struck Yan and Yun in strength; Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin again asked Wuhuang for aid and requested a march through Weizhou, which Luo Hongxin allowed. Wuhuang ordered Li Cunxin, commander-in-chief, to take thirty thousand mixed infantry and cavalry with Li Chengsi and Shi Yan to meet the Bian advance. Cunxin camped at Xin, joined Zhu Jin, and beat the Bian army again and again; the Bian commander grew anxious and turned the Wei troops against him. Cunxin could not keep order among his men and began seizing Wei forage and livestock; Hongxin then made common cause with the Bian commander and marched thirty thousand men against Cunxin. Cunxin broke camp, fell back, and held Ming prefecture. In the third month Wuhuang ravaged Xiang and Wei, stormed Li Gu and Huanshui, killed more than ten thousand Wei soldiers, and marched on Weizhou. In the fifth month Ge Congzhou and Shi Shuzong of Bian marched to relieve the city.
15
六月，李茂貞舉兵犯京師。 七月，車駕幸華州。 是月，武皇與汴軍戰於洹水之上，鐵林指揮使落落被擒。 落落，武皇之長子也。 既戰，馬踣於坎，武皇馳騎以救之，其馬亦踣，汴之追兵將及，武皇背射一發而斃，乃退。
In the sixth month Li Maozhen took the field against the capital. In the seventh month the emperor went to Huazhou. That month Wuhuang met the Bian army on the Huanshui; Luoluo, commander of the Iron Forest Corps, was taken. Luoluo was Wuhuang's eldest son. In the fighting his horse went down in a ditch; Wuhuang raced to pull him free and his own mount fell too; as Bian pursuers closed in he shot one man dead over his shoulder and broke off.
16
九月，李存信攻魏之臨清，汴將葛從周等引軍來援，大敗於宗城北。 存信進攻魏州。 十月，武皇敗魏軍於白龍潭，追擊至觀音門，汴軍救至，乃退。 十一月，武皇征兵於幽、鎮、定三州，將迎駕於華下，幽州劉仁恭托以契丹入寇，俟敵退聽命。
In the ninth month Li Cunxin attacked Linqing in Wei; Ge Congzhou came to relieve it and was routed north of Zongcheng. Cunxin pressed on to besiege Weizhou. In the tenth month Wuhuang routed the Wei army at White Dragon Pool and chased them to Guanyin Gate until Bian reinforcements came up and he drew back. In the eleventh month Wuhuang called up troops from You, Zhen, and Ding to escort the emperor back from Hua; Liu Rengong of Youzhou pleaded a Khitan invasion and promised to march once the raiders were gone.
17
乾寧四年正月，汴軍陷兗、鄆，騎將李承嗣、史儼與朱瑾同奔於淮南。 三月，陝帥王珙攻河中，王珂來告難； 武皇遣李嗣昭率二千騎赴之，破陝軍於猗氏，乃解河中之圍。 至是，天子遣延王戒丕至晉陽，傳宣旨於武皇：「朕不取卿言，以及於此，苟非英賢竭力，朕何由再謁廟廷！ 在卿表率，予所望也。」
In the first month of Qianning 4 the Bian army captured Yan and Yun; Li Chengsi, Shi Yan, and Zhu Jin fled together to Huainan. In the third month Wang Gong, military commissioner of Shaanxi, attacked Hezhong, and Wang Ke sent word that he was hard pressed; Wuhuang sent Li Sizhao with two thousand horsemen; Sizhao routed the Shaanxi force at Yishi and broke the siege of Hezhong. The emperor then sent Prince Yan Jiepi to Jinyang with this message for Wuhuang: "Because I would not take your advice I have come to this pass; but for the loyal service of able men, how could I hope to see the ancestral shrines again! I look to you to lead the way."
18
七月，武皇復征兵於幽州，劉仁恭辭旨不遜，武皇以書讓之； 仁恭捧書謾罵，抵之於地，仍囚武皇之行人。 八月，大舉以伐仁恭。 九月，師次蔚州。 戊寅，晨霧晦暝，占者雲不利深入。 辛巳，攻安塞，俄報「燕將單可及領騎軍至矣。」 武皇方置酒高會，前鋒又報「賊至矣」！ 武皇曰：「仁恭何在？」 曰：「但見可及輩。」 武皇張目怒曰：「可及輩何足為敵！」 仍促令出師。 燕軍已擊武皇軍寨，武皇乘醉擊賊，燕軍披靡。 時步兵望賊而退，為燕軍所乘，大敗於木瓜澗。 俄而大風雨震電，燕軍解去，武皇方醒。 甲午，師次代州，劉仁恭遣使謝罪於武皇，武皇亦以書報之，自此有檄十餘返。
In the seventh month Wuhuang again called on Youzhou for troops; Liu Rengong answered insolently, and Wuhuang rebuked him in writing; Rengong read the letter, reviled it, flung it down, and detained Wuhuang's messenger. In the eighth month he marched in force against Rengong. In the ninth month the army camped at Yu prefecture. On wuyin a thick morning fog settled in; the diviners warned against pushing deep into enemy country. On xinsi he assaulted An'sai; word soon came that "the Yan general Shan Keji is coming with cavalry." Wuhuang was still at his banquet when the van again cried, "The enemy is here!" Wuhuang asked, "Where is Rengong?" They answered, "Only Keji and his men are in sight." Wuhuang glared and snapped, "Men like Keji are hardly worth fighting!" Yet he ordered the troops out immediately. The Yan troops were already hitting his camp; Wuhuang, still drunk, charged the enemy and drove the Yan line back. His infantry, however, fell back at sight of the enemy and were cut down; the army was shattered at Mugua Ravine. A sudden storm of wind, rain, and thunder broke the Yan attack; when it cleared, Wuhuang was sober again. On jiawu the army camped at Dai; Liu Rengong sent envoys to apologize, Wuhuang wrote in reply, and more than ten exchanges of letters followed.
19
四月，汴將葛從周寇邢、洺、磁等州，旬日之內，三州連陷。 汴人以葛從周為邢州節度使。 大將李存信收軍，自馬嶺而旋。
In the fourth month Ge Congzhou of Bian overran Xing, Ming, and Ci; all three cities fell within ten days. The Bian commander appointed Ge Congzhou military commissioner of Xing. Li Cunxin gathered his force and pulled back from Maling.
20
八月壬戌，天子自華還宮。 是時，車駕初復，而欲諸侯輯睦，賜武皇詔，令與汴帥通好。 武皇不欲先下汴帥，乃致書於鎮州王鎔，令導其意。 明年，汴帥遣使奉書幣來修好，武皇亦報之。 自是使車交馳，朝野相賀。 九月，武皇遣周德威、李嗣昭率兵三萬出青山口，以迫邢、洺。 十月，遇汴將葛從周於張公橋，既戰，我軍大敗。 是月，河中王珂來告急，言王珙引汴軍來寇，武皇遣李嗣昭將兵三千以援之，屯於胡壁堡。 汴軍萬餘人來拒戰，嗣昭擊退之。
On renxu in the eighth month the emperor returned from Hua to the capital. The court had only just returned to Chang'an and wanted peace among the warlords; Wuhuang was ordered to reconcile with the Bian commander. Unwilling to make the first move toward Bian, Wuhuang wrote Wang Rong of Zhenzhou to sound him out. The following year the Bian commander sent envoys with letters and gifts to reopen relations, and Wuhuang answered in kind. Envoys then traveled constantly between the two sides, and the realm breathed easier. In the ninth month Wuhuang sent Zhou Dewei and Li Sizhao with thirty thousand men through Qing Mountain Pass against Xing and Ming. In the tenth month they met Ge Congzhou at Zhanggong Bridge and were routed. That month Wang Ke of Hezhong begged for help against Wang Gong and the Bian army; Wuhuang sent Li Sizhao with three thousand men to Hubi Fort. When more than ten thousand Bian troops came up, Sizhao beat them back.
21
十二月，潞州節度使薛誌勤卒，澤州刺史李罕之以本軍夜入潞州，據城以叛。 罕之報武皇曰：「薛鐵山新死，潞民無主，慮軍城有變，輒專命鎮撫。」 武皇令人讓之，罕之乃歸於汴。 武皇遣李嗣昭將兵討之，下澤州，收罕之家屬，拘送晉陽。
In the twelfth month Xue Zhiqin, military commissioner of Lu, died; Li Hanzhi of Ze led his troops into Lu by night, seized the city, and rebelled. Hanzhi wrote Wuhuang: "Xue Tieshan has just died and Lu has no leader; fearing trouble in the city, I took it on myself to restore order." Wuhuang rebuked him, and Hanzhi then went over to Bian. Wuhuang sent Li Sizhao against him; Sizhao took Ze, seized Hanzhi's kin, and sent them as prisoners to Jinyang.
22
光化二年春正月，李罕之陷沁州。 三月，汴將葛從周、氏叔琮自土門陷承天軍，又陷遼州，進軍榆次。 武皇令周德威擊之，敗汴軍於洞渦驛，叔琮棄營而遁，德威追擊，出石會關，殺千餘人。 汴人復陷澤州。 五月，武皇令都指揮使李君慶將兵收澤、潞，為汴軍所敗而還。 以李嗣昭為都指揮使，進攻潞州。 八月，嗣昭營於潞州城下，前鋒下澤州。 時汴將賀德倫、張歸厚等守潞州。 是月，德倫等棄城而遁，潞州平。 九月，武皇表汾州刺史孟遷為潞州節度使。
In the first month of Guanghua 2 Li Hanzhi seized Qin prefecture. In the third month Ge Congzhou and Shi Shuzong of Bian came through Tumen Pass, took Chengtian Army and Liaozhou, and pushed on to Yuci. Wuhuang sent Zhou Dewei against them; Dewei routed the Bian force at Donghuo Post, drove Shuzong from his camp, and chased him through Shihui Pass, killing more than a thousand. The Bian army then recovered Ze prefecture. In the fifth month Wuhuang ordered Li Junqing to retake Ze and Lu; the Bian army beat him back. Li Sizhao was made commander-in-chief and marched on Lu. In the eighth month Sizhao camped below Lu while his van took Ze. He Delun, Zhang Guihou, and other Bian generals held Lu. That month they abandoned Lu and fled; the prefecture was recovered. In the ninth month Wuhuang asked that Meng Qian, prefect of Fen, be made military commissioner of Lu.
23
光化三年，汴軍大寇河朔，幽州劉仁恭乞師，武皇遣周德威帥五千騎以援之。 七月，李嗣昭攻堯山，至內丘，敗汴軍於沙河； 進攻洺州，下之。 九月，汴帥自將兵三萬圍洺州，嗣昭棄城而歸，葛從周設伏於青山口，嗣昭之軍不利。 十月，汴人乘勝寇鎮、定，鎮、定懼，皆納賂於汴。 是時，周德威與燕軍劉守光敗汴人二萬於望都，聞定州王郜來奔，乃班師。 是月，天子加武皇實封一百戶。 遣李嗣昭率步騎三萬攻懷州，下之。 進攻河陽，汴將閻寶率軍來援，嗣昭退保懷州。
In Guanghua 3 the Bian army swept Hebei; Liu Rengong of Youzhou asked for aid, and Wuhuang sent Zhou Dewei with five thousand horsemen. In the seventh month Li Sizhao attacked Yaoshan, reached Neiqiu, and routed the Bian force on the Sha River; he then took Ming prefecture. In the ninth month the Bian commander came in person with thirty thousand men to besiege Ming; Sizhao evacuated the city, and Ge Congzhou ambushed him at Qing Mountain Pass. In the tenth month the victors pressed into Zhen and Ding; both circuits, in fear, paid tribute to Bian. Meanwhile Zhou Dewei and Liu Shouguang of Yan routed twenty thousand Bian troops at Wangdu; when word came that Wang Gao of Dingzhou was fleeing toward them, they turned back. That month the emperor added a hundred households to Wuhuang's substantive fief. He sent Li Sizhao with thirty thousand mixed troops against Huaizhou and took the city. Sizhao then marched on Heyang; Yan Bao of Bian came to its relief, and Sizhao fell back to defend Huaizhou.
24
四月，汴將氏叔琮率兵五萬自太行路寇澤、潞，魏博大將張文恭領軍自新口入，葛從周領兗、鄆之眾自土門入，張歸厚以邢、洺之眾自馬嶺入，定州王處直之眾自飛狐入，侯言以晉、絳之兵自陰地入。 氏叔琮、康懷英營於澤州之昂車。 武皇令李嗣昭將三千騎赴澤州援李存璋，而歸賀德倫。 氏叔琮軍至潞州，孟遷開門迎，沁州刺史蔡訓亦以城降於汴，氏叔琮悉其眾趨石會關。 是時，偏將李審建先統兵三千在潞州，亦與孟遷降於汴； 及叔琮之入寇也，審建為其鄉導。 汴人營於洞渦，別將白奉國與鎮州大將石公立自井陘入，陷承天軍。 及攻壽陽，遼州刺史張鄂以城降於汴，都人大恐。 時霖雨積旬，汴軍屯聚既眾，芻糧不給，復多痢瘧，師人多死。 時大將李嗣昭、李嗣源每夜率驍騎突營掩殺，敵眾恐懼。
In the fourth month Shi Shuzong of Bian brought fifty thousand men down the Taihang against Ze and Lu; Zhang Wengong of Weibo entered by Xinkou; Ge Congzhou led the Yan and Yun armies through Tumen; Zhang Guihou came from Maling with the Xing and Ming troops; Wang Chuzhi of Ding entered by Feihu; and Hou Yan led the Jin and Jiang forces through Yindi. Shi Shuzong and Kang Huaiying camped at Angche in Ze. Wuhuang sent Li Sizhao with three thousand horsemen to relieve Ze, aid Li Cunzhang, and recover He Delun. When Shuzong reached Lu, Meng Qian opened the gates; Cai Xun of Qin surrendered too; and Shuzong drove his whole force toward Shihui Pass. The deputy Li Shenjian, who had held Lu with three thousand men, went over to Bian with Meng Qian; and when Shuzong invaded he guided the Bian columns. Another Bian column camped at Donghuo while Bai Fengguo and Shi Gongli of Zhen entered by Jingxing and seized Chengtian Army. At Shouyang, Zhang E of Liaozhou surrendered; panic spread through the capital. Rain fell for ten days straight; the Bian host was huge, supplies ran out, and dysentery and fever killed many men. Li Sizhao and Li Siyuan then led night raids with picked cavalry, and the Bian camps lived in dread.
25
五月，汴軍皆退。 氏叔琮軍出石會，周德威、李嗣昭以精騎五千躡之，殺戮萬計。 初，汴軍之將入寇也，汾州刺史李瑭據城叛，以連汴人，至是武皇令李嗣昭、李存審將兵討之。 是歲，並、汾饑，粟暴貴，人多附瑭為亂，嗣昭悉力攻城，三日而拔，擒李瑭等斬於晉陽市。 氏叔琮既旋軍，過潞州，擄孟遷以歸。 汴帥以丁會為潞州節度使。
In the fifth month the entire Bian force pulled back. As Shuzong withdrew through Shihui, Zhou Dewei and Li Sizhao followed with five thousand elite horsemen and cut down countless men. At the opening of the invasion Li Tang of Fen had rebelled and sided with Bian; Wuhuang now sent Li Sizhao and Li Cunzhen against him. Famine gripped Bing and Fen that year and grain soared in price; crowds rallied to Li Tang; Sizhao stormed the city in three days, took Li Tang, and executed him in the Jinyang market. On the homeward march Shuzong passed through Lu and carried Meng Qian away. The Bian commander appointed Ding Hui military commissioner of Lu.
26
六月，遣李嗣昭、周德威將兵出陰地，攻慈、隰二郡，隰州刺史唐禮、慈州刺史張瑰並以城來降。 武皇以汴寇方盛，難以兵服，佯降心以緩其謀，乃遣牙將張特持幣馬書檄以諭之，陳當時利害，請復舊好。 十一月壬子，汴帥營於渭濱。 甲寅，天子出幸鳳翔。 〈（《新唐書》：帝如鳳翔，李茂貞、韓全誨請召克用入衛，克用間道遣使者奔問，並詒書全忠，勸還汴，全忠不答。）〉 武皇遣李嗣昭率兵三千自沁州趨平陽，遇汴軍於晉州北，斬首五百級。
In the sixth month he sent Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei from Yindi against Ci and Xi; Tang Li of Xi and Zhang Gui of Ci both surrendered. With Bian power at its height and victory beyond reach, Wuhuang pretended to yield and sent Zhang Te with gifts, horses, and letters explaining the stakes and asking for peace. On renzi in the eleventh month the Bian commander camped on the Wei River. On jiayin the emperor went to Fengxiang. (The 《New Book of Tang》 records that when the emperor went to Fengxiang, Li Maozhen and Han Quanhui urged summoning Li Keyong to guard the court; Keyong sent envoys by a hidden route to inquire after him and also wrote Zhu Quanzhong urging him back to Bian, but Quanzhong made no answer.)〉 Wuhuang sent Li Sizhao with three thousand men from Qin to Pingyang; north of Jin prefecture they met the Bian army and took five hundred heads.
27
天復二年二月，李嗣昭、周德威領大軍自慈、隰進攻晉、絳，營於蒲縣。 乙未，汴將朱友寧、氏叔琮將兵十萬，營於蒲縣之南。 乙巳，汴帥自領軍至晉州，德威之軍大恐。 三月丁巳，有虹貫德威之營。 戊午，氏叔琮率軍來戰，德威逆擊，為汴人所敗，兵仗、輜車委棄殆盡。 朱友寧長驅至汾州，慈、隰二州復為汴人所據。 辛酉，汴軍營於晉陽之西北，攻城西門，周德威、李嗣昭緣山保其餘眾而旋。 武皇驅丁壯登陴拒守，汴軍攻城日急； 武皇召李嗣昭、周德威等謀將出奔雲州，嗣昭以為不可。 李存信堅請且入北蕃，續圖進取，嗣昭等固爭之，太妃劉氏亦極言於內，乃止。 居數日，亡散之士復集，軍城稍安。 李嗣昭與李嗣源夜入汴軍，斬將搴旗，敵人扞禦不暇，自相驚擾。 丁卯，朱友寧燒營而遁，周德威追至白壁關，俘斬萬計，因收復慈、隰、汾等三州。
In the second month of Tianfu 2 Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei marched from Ci and Xi against Jin and Jiang and camped at Pu county. On yiwei Zhu Youning and Shi Shuzong of Bian brought a hundred thousand men and camped south of Pu. On yisi the Bian commander came in person to Jin prefecture, and Dewei's men were terrified. On dingsi in the third month a rainbow arched over Dewei's camp. On wuwu Shi Shuzong gave battle; Dewei met him and was routed; arms and wagons were left behind in heaps. Zhu Youning pressed on to Fen, and Ci and Xi fell again to Bian. On the xinyou day Bian forces camped northwest of Jinyang and assaulted the west gate; Zhou Dewei and Li Sizhao took the survivors along the hills and pulled back. Wuhuang pressed every able man onto the walls; the Bian attack tightened day by day. Wuhuang called Li Sizhao, Zhou Dewei, and the rest to plan an escape to Yunzhou; Sizhao said they must not. Li Cunxin pressed to withdraw into the northern tribes and strike again later; Sizhao and the others argued him down, Grand Consort Liu spoke fiercely within, and the plan was dropped. Within days scattered men came back and the garrison steadied. Li Sizhao and Li Siyuan stole into the Bian camp at night, took officers and flags, and threw the enemy into panic before they could rally. On dingmao Zhu Youning burned his camp and fled; Zhou Dewei chased him to Bai Bi Pass, killed or captured tens of thousands, and took back Ci, Xi, and Fen.
28
天復三年正月，天子自鳳翔歸京。 五月，雲州都將王敬暉殺刺史劉再立，以城歸於劉仁恭。 武皇遣李嗣昭討之，仁恭遣將以兵五萬來援雲州，嗣昭退保樂安，燕人擄敬暉，棄城而去。 武皇怒，笞嗣昭及李存審而削其官。 是時，親軍萬眾皆邊部人，動違紀律，人甚苦之，左右或以為言。 武皇曰：「此輩膽略過人，數十年從吾征伐，比年以來，國藏空竭，諸軍之家賣馬自給。 今四方諸侯皆懸重賞以募勇士，吾若束之以法，急則棄吾，吾安能獨保此乎！ 俟時開運泰，吾固自能處置矣。」
In the first month of Tianfu 3 the emperor came back from Fengxiang to the capital. In the fifth month Wang Jinghui, commandant of Yunzhou, killed Prefect Liu Zaili and gave the city to Liu Rengong. Wuhuang sent Li Sizhao to punish him; Rengong sent fifty thousand men to save Yunzhou; Sizhao fell back to Le'an; the Yan troops seized Jinghui and left the city. Wuhuang in a rage had Sizhao and Li Cunshen beaten and removed from office. His personal army of ten thousand were all frontier men and often broke discipline; the people suffered, and his attendants sometimes complained. Wuhuang said, "These men are bolder than any others; they have fought with me for decades. Lately the treasury is empty and every household sells horses to live. Every lord in the land now offers rich pay for warriors. If I tighten the law on them, they will leave me in a crisis—how could I hold this alone? When fortune turns and the realm is calm, I can settle them myself."
29
天祐二年春，契丹安巴堅始盛，武皇召之，安巴堅領部族三十萬至雲州，與武皇會於雲州之東，握手甚歡，結為兄弟，旬日而去，留馬千匹，牛羊萬計，期以冬初大舉渡河。
In the spring of Tianyou 2 the Khitan leader Abaoji was rising; Wuhuang called him in. Abaoji brought three hundred thousand tribesmen to Yunzhou and met Wuhuang east of the city; they clasped hands, swore brotherhood, and parted after ten days, leaving a thousand horses and countless herds and promising a great river crossing in early winter.
30
天祐三年正月，魏博既殺牙軍，魏將史仁遇據高唐以叛，遣人乞師於武皇，武皇遣李嗣昭率三千騎攻邢州以應之，遇汴將牛存節、張筠於青山口，嗣昭不利而還。 九月，汴帥親率兵攻滄州，幽州劉仁恭遣使來乞師，武皇乃征兵於仁恭，將攻潞州，以解滄州之圍。 仁恭遣掌書記馬鬱、都指揮使李溥等將兵三萬，會於晉陽，武皇遣周德威、李嗣昭合燕軍以攻澤、潞。 十二月，潞州節度使丁會開門迎降，命李嗣昭為潞州節度使，以丁會歸於晉陽。
In the first month of Tianyou 3, after Weibo slaughtered the yajun, Wei officer Shi Renyu seized Gaotang and asked Wuhuang for aid. Wuhuang sent Li Sizhao with three thousand horse against Xingzhou; at Qingshan Pass he met Niu Cunjie and Zhang Yun of Bian, fared badly, and withdrew. In the ninth month the Bian commander marched on Cangzhou in person; Liu Rengong of Youzhou sent envoys asking for help. Wuhuang then drafted Rengong's troops for an attack on Lu Prefecture to lift the siege of Cangzhou. Rengong sent his secretary Ma Yu and commander Li Pu with thirty thousand men to Jinyang; Wuhuang sent Zhou Dewei and Li Sizhao with the Yan army against Ze and Lu. In the twelfth month Ding Hui, military commissioner of Lu, opened the gates and submitted; Li Sizhao was made commissioner of Lu and Ding Hui was sent to Jinyang.
31
天祐四年正月甲申，汴帥聞潞州失守，自滄州燒營而遁。 四月，天子禪位於汴帥，奉天子為濟陰王。 改元為開平，國號大梁。 是歲，四川王建遣使至，勸武皇各王一方，俟破賊之後，訪唐朝宗室以嗣帝位，然後各歸藩守。 武皇不從，以書報之曰：
On jiashen in the first month of Tianyou 4 the Bian commander learned that Lu had fallen, burned his camp at Cangzhou, and fled. In the fourth month the emperor abdicated to the Bian commander and was given the title Prince of Jiyin. The era became Kaiping and the state was called Great Liang. That year Wang Jian of Shu sent envoys urging Wuhuang to declare himself king in his own territory; after the rebels were crushed they would find a Tang clansman for the throne and each return to his post. Wuhuang refused and answered in a letter:
32
竊念本朝屯否，巨業淪胥，攀鼎駕以長違，撫彤弓而自咎，默默終占，悠悠彼蒼，生此厲階，永為痛毒，視橫流而莫救，徒誓楫以興言。 別捧函題，過垂獎諭，省覽周既，駭惕異常。 淚下沾衿，倍鬱申胥之素； 汗流浹背，如聞蔣濟之言。
I grieve that our house is blocked and its great work lost; I reach for the imperial carriage yet am far from it, touch the red bow and blame myself—silent augury, heaven above, this curse upon us, endless pain; I see the flood and cannot save it, and can only swear by the paddle to act. You sent another letter with lavish praise; when I read it through I was deeply shaken. Tears soaked my robe, as when Shen Xu wept for his state; sweat ran down my back, as if Jiang Ji were rebuking me.
33
仆經事兩朝，受恩三代，位叨將相，籍係宗枝，賜鈇鉞以專征，征苞茅而問罪。 鏖兵校戰，二十餘年，竟未能斬新莽之頭顱，斷蚩尤之肩髀，以至廟朝顛覆，豺虎縱橫。 且授任分憂，叨榮冒寵，龜玉毀櫝，誰之咎歟！ 俯閱指陳，不勝慚恧。 然則君臣無常位，陵谷有變遷，或箠塞長河，泥封函谷，時移事改，理有萬殊。 即如周末虎爭，魏初鼎據。 孫權父子，不顯授於漢恩，劉備君臣，自微興於涿郡。 得之不謝於家世，失之無損於功名，適當逐鹿之秋，何惜華蟲之服。 惟仆累朝席寵，奕世輸忠，忝佩訓詞，粗存家法。 善博奕者惟先守道，治蹊田者不可奪牛。 誓於此生，靡敢失節，仰憑廟勝，早殄寇讎。 如其事與願違，則共臧洪遊於地下，亦無恨矣。
I have served two courts and three emperors, held the rank of general and minister, and stand in the imperial clan roll; I was given the axe to campaign at will and charged to punish rebels in the king's name. For twenty years I fought in the field yet never struck down the usurper or the rebel, until the dynasty fell and beasts ruled the land. Yet I was given office and trust, showered with honors—and the jade in its case was shattered. Whose fault is that? Reading your frank advice, I am overcome with shame. Yet lord and subject do not keep one place forever, and fortune shifts like hills and valleys; rivers are dammed and passes sealed—times change, and principle takes countless forms. At the end of Zhou, rivals fought like tigers; at the rise of Wei, men seized the tripod. Sun Quan and his son owed Han little; Liu Bei and his ministers raised themselves from Zhuo. Winning the realm did not depend on pedigree; losing it did not stain their names—it was the season of chasing the deer, and court dress meant little. I alone have been favored through many reigns and loyal through generations; I am unworthy of your counsel, yet I still keep my house's rule. A good chess player keeps the rules first; a man who tends his own field must not take another's ox. I swear never to break faith in this life and trust the ancestral shrine's blessing to destroy the enemy soon. If heaven wills otherwise, I would rather keep Zang Hong company in the grave and feel no regret.
34
惟公社稷元勳，嵩、衡降祉，鎮九州之上地，負一代之鴻才，合於此時，自求多福。 所承良訊，非仆深心，天下其謂我何，有國非吾節也。 淒淒孤懇，此不盡陳。
You alone are the state's founding pillar; fortune falls on you from the sacred peaks; you hold the heartland of the realm and bear the talent of the age—seize this moment and secure your own blessing. Your generous proposal is not my true mind; what would the world say of me? To take a kingdom is not my way. My lonely plea is full of grief; I cannot say all of it.
35
五月，梁祖遣其將康懷英率兵十萬圍潞州，懷英驅率士眾，築壘環城，城中音信斷絕。 武皇遣周德威將兵赴援，德威軍於餘吾，率先鋒挑戰，日有俘獲，懷英不敢即戰。 梁祖以懷英無功，乃以李思安代之。 思安引軍將營於潞城，周德威以五千騎搏之，梁軍大敗，斬首千餘級。 思安退保堅壁，別築外壘，謂之「夾塞」，以抗我之援軍。 梁祖調發山東之民以供饋運，德威日以輕騎掩之，運路艱阻，眾心益恐。 李思安乃自東南山口築夾道，連接夾寨，以通饋運，自是梁軍堅保夾塞。
In the fifth month the Liang Founder sent Kang Huaiying with a hundred thousand men to besiege Lu; Huaiying drove his troops to ring the city with camps and cut off all news from within. Wuhuang sent Zhou Dewei to relieve the city; Dewei camped at Yuyu, led the van in daily skirmishes, and took prisoners every day; Huaiying would not fight a pitched battle. Because Huaiying had achieved nothing, the Liang Founder replaced him with Li Si'an. Si'an moved to camp at Lucheng; Zhou Dewei struck with five thousand horse, routed the Liang army, and took more than a thousand heads. Si'an fell back behind stout walls and built outer camps called the "Twin Forts" to block our relief. The Liang Founder drafted the people of Shandong for convoys; Dewei sent light horse against them daily; the routes grew perilous and morale sank. Li Si'an then built a walled road from the southeast pass to link the twin forts and keep supplies moving; after that the Liang army held the forts in strength.
36
冬十月，武皇有疾，是時晉陽城無故自壞，占者惡之。
In the tenth month of winter Wuhuang fell ill; the walls of Jinyang collapsed for no reason, and diviners called it a bad sign.
37
天祐五年正月戊子朔，武皇疾革。 辛卯，崩於晉陽，年五十三。 遣令薄葬，發喪後二十七日除服。 莊宗即位，追諡武皇帝，廟號太祖，陵在雁門。 《五代史補》：太祖武皇，本朱耶赤心之後，沙陁部人也。 其先生於雕窠中，酋長以其異生，諸族傳養之，遂以「諸爺」為氏，言非一父所養也。 其後言訛，以「諸」為「朱」，以「爺」為「耶」。 至太祖生，眇一目，長而驍勇，善騎射，所向無敵，時謂之「獨眼龍」，大為部落所疾。 太祖恐禍及，遂舉族歸唐，授雲州刺史，賜姓李，名克用。 黃巢犯長安，自北引兵赴難，功成，遂拜太原節度使，封晉王。 武皇之有河東也，威聲大振。 淮南楊行密常恨識其狀貌，因使畫工詐為商賈，往河東寫之。 畫工到，未幾，人有知其謀者，擒之。 武皇初甚怒，既而謂所親曰：「且吾素眇一目，試召之使寫，觀其所為如何。」 及至，武皇按膝厲聲曰：「淮南使汝來寫吾真，必畫工之尤也，寫吾不及十分，即價下便是死汝之所矣。」 畫工再拜下筆。 時方盛暑，武皇執八角扇，因寫扇角半遮其面。 武皇曰：「汝諂吾也。」 遽使別寫之，又應聲下筆，畫其臂弓撚箭之狀，仍微合一目以觀箭之曲直，武皇大喜，因厚賂金帛遣之。 《五代史闕文》：世傳武皇臨薨，以三矢付莊宗曰：「一矢討劉仁恭，汝不先下幽州，河南未可圖也。 一矢擊契丹，且曰阿保機與吾把臂而盟，結為兄弟，誓復唐家社稷，今背約附賊，汝必伐之。 一矢滅朱溫，汝能成吾誌，死無憾矣！」 莊宗藏三矢於武皇廟庭。 及討劉仁恭，命幕吏以少牢告廟，請一矢，盛以錦囊，使親將負之以為前驅。 凱旋之日，隨俘馘納矢於太廟。 伐契丹，滅朱氏亦如之。 又，武皇眇一目，謂之「獨眼龍。」 性喜殺，左右有小過失，必置於死。 初諱眇，人無敢犯者，嘗令寫真，畫工即為撚箭之狀，微瞑一目，圖成而進，武皇大悅，賜予甚厚。）
On the new moon of the first month of Tianyou 5 Wuhuang grew deathly ill. On xinmao he died at Jinyang, aged fifty-three. He ordered a plain burial and that mourning dress end twenty-seven days after the funeral. Zhuangzong posthumously named him Martial Emperor, gave him the temple name Taizu, and buried him at Yanmen. The 《Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties》 says Wuhuang Taizu was descended from Zhuoye Chixin and was of the Shatuo tribe. An ancestor was born in an eagle's nest; the chieftain, seeing the omen, had the clans rear him by turns, and they took "Zhu Ye" as the clan name—"not one father's child." Later the name was corrupted: "Zhu-ye" became the Zhu and Ye of his surname. Taizu was born with one blind eye; grown he was fierce, a master of horse and bow, unbeaten in battle, and men called him the "One-Eyed Dragon"—much hated in the tribe. Fearing harm, he led his clan to Tang, was made prefect of Yun, given the surname Li, and named Keyong. When Huang Chao took Chang'an he marched from the north to save the throne; for his service he became military commissioner of Taiyuan and Prince of Jin. Once Wuhuang held Hedong his fame as a warrior soared. Yang Xingmi of Huainan, who had never seen his face, sent a painter disguised as a merchant to Hedong to capture his likeness. The painter had barely arrived when someone uncovered the plot and seized him. Wuhuang was furious at first, then told his intimates, "I have been blind in one eye for years—bring him in and see what he paints. 」When the man came, Wuhuang struck his knee and thundered, "Huainan sent you to paint me—you must be their best. Fall short by a tenth and that lowered price is your death." 」The painter bowed again and began to paint. It was midsummer; Wuhuang held an eight-sided fan, and the painter hid half his face behind the fan in the picture. Wuhuang said, "You flatter me. 」He ordered another portrait; the painter worked at once, showing him with bow on arm and arrow drawn, one eye narrowed to sight the shaft; Wuhuang was delighted, gave him gold and silk, and sent him away. The 《Lost Chapters of the History of the Five Dynasties》 says: Tradition holds that on his deathbed Wuhuang gave Zhuangzong three arrows, saying, "One to punish Liu Rengong—you must take Youzhou before you can dream of Henan. One to strike the Khitan—Abaoji swore brotherhood with me and vowed to restore Tang; now he breaks faith and joins the traitor—you must attack him. One to destroy Zhu Wen—if you fulfill my will I die content! 」Zhuangzong kept the three arrows in Wuhuang's temple court. When he marched on Liu Rengong he had a clerk offer sacrifice at the temple, took one arrow in a brocade bag, and had a trusted general carry it before the van. On the day of victory he brought the arrow back with prisoners and spoils to the Grand Temple. He did the same against the Khitan and in destroying the Zhu house. It adds that Wuhuang had one blind eye and was called the "One-Eyed Dragon. 」He loved killing; a small slip by an attendant meant death. His blind eye was once taboo; when he ordered a portrait the painter showed him drawing a bow with one eye narrowed; Wuhuang was delighted and rewarded him richly.)
38
史臣曰：武皇肇跡陰山，赴難唐室，逐豺狼於魏闕，殄氛祲於秦川，賜姓受封，奄有汾、晉，可謂有功矣。 然雖茂勤王之績，而非無震主之威。 及朱旗屯渭曲之師，俾翠輦有石門之幸，比夫桓、文之輔周室，無乃有所愧乎！ 洎失援於蒲、絳，久垂翅於並、汾，若非嗣子之英才，豈有興王之茂業。 矧累功積德，未比於周文，創業開基，尚虧於魏祖。 追諡為「武」，斯亦幸焉！
The historian writes: Wuhuang rose from Yinshan, saved the Tang court, drove wolves from the capital, and cleared rebellion from Qinchuan; he took a surname, a fief, and held Fen and Jin—this was merit. Yet for all his zeal in the king's service, he also inspired fear in his lord. When Zhu armies camped on the Wei bend and the imperial carriage met Shimen's fate, beside Huan and Wen who upheld Zhou, he had reason to blush. When he lost Pu and Jiang and languished at Bing and Fen, without an able son there would have been no founding reign. His piled merit never matched King Wen, and his founding fell short of Cao Cao. That he was posthumously styled "Martial" was itself a mercy.